Hutchinson CC Sports Information
PARK CITY – The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team placed four players in double figures as the No. 14 Blue Dragons defeated the Independence Pirates 74-59 on Sunday night in the Region VI Tournament Quarterfinals at Hartman Arena.
The Blue Dragons improve to 27-5 overall and will advance to the Region VI semifinals at 5 p.m. on Tuesday to take on the Barton Cougars. Coffeyville and Garden City meet in the other semifinal.
Hutchinson advances to its sixth-straight Region VI Tournament semifinals, which is a school record. The Dragons also defeated Independence for the 11th consecutive time.
Sophomore Devonte Bandoo led all scorers with 24 points to pace the Blue Dragons. When Bandoo nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner in the second half for his 20th point, he became the 18th member of the Blue Dragon career 1,000-Point Club. Bandoo was 9 of 12 shooting, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. He also added seven rebounds and four assists.
Leading 46-45 midway through the second half, the Blue Dragons exploded on a 15-2 run and led 61-47 after Rob Whitifeld's jumper with 5:08 to play. Independence never drew closer than 10 points after that.
Whitfield finished with 15 points and three assists. J.J. Rhymes. James Rojas also had 15 points and J.J. Rhymes had 12 points.
The Blue Dragons shot 46.6 percent (27 of 58), going 6 of 12 from 3-point range and 14 of 20 from the foul line. The Blue Dragons were out-rebounded 39-37.
Cameron Clark was the only Pirate to score in double figures with 10. DeAnthony McCallum, the league's second-leading scorer, was held to five points on 2 of 6 shooting.
The Pirates shot 38.6 percent (22 of 57), hitting 5 of 15 from 3-point range and 10 of 26 from the foul line. The Pirates also had 17 turnovers.